It’s been about a year since All From Beside issued their 2010 Demo recording. With a stable nine tracks that welcomed listeners into their world, it’s not surprising that the group returned to the studio again. The main difference here is that this follow-up effort, A World Ablaze, is just a three song EP, all new recordings and nothing from the previous demo. But, does this still unsigned act bring a little under thirteen minute recording full of solid material, or does it not quite live up to the expectations the group set with their first release?

A World Ablaze is definitely step up in audio quality from their debut, which is great to hear. While it’s still not the most amazing sound quality one can gather, it does end up accentuating the richer material here. There is a deeper audio level that allows the bass to really come through during the breakdowns to create a bit of a menacing sound, and outside those sections the guitar really takes over with a cleaner sound, though still a bit sharper. The additional keyboards really add some spectacular ambience and Electronica moments throughout the three songs, though sometimes it can get a little overboard. Atop that, the vocals are the traditional mixture of deeper shouts against a guttural approach, sometimes feeding into melodies with clean singing that can come off a little more on the edge of the Screamo/Metalcore border, though still suit the environment when not being abused. The drums also feel really strong thanks to the click on the bass kicks that is just the right levels, some deeper snares, and moderately loud cymbals that don’t really try to dominate the mix. But, while the levels are good, and the sound that is captured is proper for the music, the bite from the kit doesn’t really come through with the snares, and when they become the main driving point in some songs, like the faster bridges of “Fiction is My Reality,” things can feel a little more on the hollow side.

With that said, all three tracks on A World Ablaze do actually end up leaving a good impact with the listener, but it ends up being pretty hard to overlook some of the EP’s faults. The music here is tighter, and the additional Electronica elements really cater to a strong atmosphere for the music and make the whole presentation a lot richer. “Fiction is My Reality” gives off more of a space-driven tone, darker but full of stars, largely during the highly impressive chorus and some bridges, and hope amid some crushing passages. The clean vocals here make a nice touch as well, being pushed further into the background amid the deep shouting and some high-pitched rasps at times. The biggest downfall here, however, does end up being the traditional Deathcore breakdowns, an issue the other songs suffer from too. These are just not the most engaging despite how deep they end up sounding, coming off as simple one note breakdowns played at a slower pace, and even feeling forced at times with how sudden they hit and how they don’t fit or transition in or out too well.

“Welcome to Your Nightmare” does a better job of incorporating them into the mix, actually having much of the start centered around a similar approach as those breakdowns before with some traditional Deathcore chords, but on top of that the music often stays at a consistant pace with more going on, and when the more traditional breakdown hits and the tempo slows down, it’s built up nicely with a great transition that makes them genuinely feel like they are supposed to be there. Aside that, it’s just a chaotic track with plenty of keyboard/Electronica fueled atmosphere. But, it also does end up being a sign of some treacherous things to come when it comes to the final song. “My Ray” really captures what makes the first two songs great, bringing in that astral atmosphere once more with some additional effects on the vocals at times, and solid shifts in the music in and out of breakdowns. However, the clean singing here works well, though the layering feels a tad bit off. On top of that, the effect on the vocals during the breakdown at the half way point treads into the kind of Techno/Rave music territory that can induce migraines, having the vocals cut in and out constantly to the point where, if it were light, it would cause seizures in people without epilepsy. Thankfully, this section doesn’t last too long, and in the end doesn’t really hurt the song that bad, but that doesn’t stop it from creeping up again later, which just feels a bit like overkill given how hard it already hit in the largest built up section of the song.

A World Ablaze is far from a bad EP, and considering [at the time of this review] you can download it for free is enough of statement to make it worth checking out. The atmosphere and rich Melodic Death Metal passages really cause the track to stand out, but the band seems to push the Deathcore foundation just a little too close to the stereotype. Honestly, had the production on the drums been a little better, some of the breakdowns here would sound fantastic, especially considering how strong the bass drops are during these moments. With a little more time and growth, All From Beside can easily be a band that will catch on among the Deathcore fans, especially if this is the end result of roughly one year of growth.